Money Helps Miss. Colleges Cut Energy Usage

Mississippi's eight public universities will share in a $725,000 Department of Energy grant to develop programs to reduce energy consumption 20 percent by 2020.

The state announced the grant Wednesday.

The Tennessee Valley Authority says it will add $150,000 to the program over three years for the three public universities in its service area: Mississippi University for Women, University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University.

State officials say energy-saving ideas developed at the schools will be passed on to state and local governments. The state is already working on improving energy efficiency at some other buildings.